The first step in organising your wedding is to book the church and the priest: you can do this by contacting the parish office: in person, by phone or by email. After arrangements have been made you will meet with one of the priests who will organise
1) the ceremony,
2) the paper work for both government and church, and
3) marriage preparation.
To ensure your wedding is a faith-filled celebration the priest will offer you lots of choices for your ceremony, and will give you a user-friendly marriage booklet to take home, This will help you to personalise your wedding. We have a new booklet called, When We Marry which will help you select the readings and prayers to be used in your ceremony. It also has an accompanying USB which will save you lots of time in preparing your ceremony booklet.
A Marriage Preparation Course is the best way to prepare for your marriage. There are very professional courses readily available. All of these options require reservations made well in advance; this is the couple's responsibility. The priest or parish office staff will give you registration information. Details of the courses are available in the brochure supplied or from the Diocesan Website www.sandhurst.catholic.org.au under Directory, CatholicCare, Program for Couples or by phoning (03)5438 1300 .
A deposit of $150 is to be made upon booking and the rest ($450) is to be paid before the wedding. If you would like to make a donation to the priest as well this would be most welcome.
The bride and groom require the following documentation:
1) Birth Certificate or Passport.
2) If you are a Catholic, we need a recent copy of your Baptismal Certificate. Contact your parish of baptism. 3) If your partner is baptised in another Christian Church then we would like a copy of that certificate.
Forms to be completed with the priest:
1) Notice of Intended Marriage (Government requirement)
2) Two Marriage Declarations:(Government and Church requirement)
3) Form of permission or dispensation in cases of interfaith marriages. 4) With an inter-church or inter-faith marriage it is also necessary for the Catholic party to sign a form that they will endeavour to persevere in their Catholic faith and that they will do all in their power to baptise their children and bring them up in the practice of the faith.
Other Practical Matters
1) Most couples like a rehearsal the evening before the wedding. We will arrange this for you. At this time, you also need to sign a document called a Declaration of Freedom to Marry to comply with the Australian Marriage Act.
2) Witnesses - Australian Law requires two witnesses over the age 18 to sign the marriage certificate and the registers.
3) For other Matters - e.g. flowers, music, singing, videoing & photography, please consult the priest or parish office on (03) 5821 2633 .
4) Wedding Booklet - the priest will help you with this and approve it prior to printing.
5) Flowers - you can use flowers that are prepared for weekend Masses or you can organise your own flowers with a local florist at your own cost. The church has a few sets of pew decorations that are available to be used. Please advise our Sacristan, Andrea Hayes, on (03) 5814 3132 of your intention.
This may look a bit overwhelming, but it is simple and we will walk you through it.
About the Sacrament of Matrimony:
God, who is love and who created man and woman for love, has called them to love. By creating man and woman he called them to an intimate communion of life and of love in marriage, “So that they are no longer two, but one flesh.” (Matthew 19:6). God said to them in blessing, “Be fruitful and multiply.” (Genesis 1:28)
The marital union of man and woman, which is founded and endowed with its own proper laws by the Creator, is, by its very nature, ordered to the communion and good of the couple and to the generation and education of children. According to the original divine plan this conjugal union is indissoluble, as Jesus Christ affirmed: “What God has joined together, let no one put asunder” (Mark 10:9).
Christ not only restored the original order of matrimony but raised it to the dignity of a sacrament, giving spouses a special grace to live out their marriage as a symbol of Christ’s love for his bride the Church, “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the Church” (Ephesians 5:25).
Since Matrimony establishes spouses in a public state of life in the Church, its liturgical celebration is public, taking place in the presence of a priest and other witnesses.
Matrimonial consent is given when a man and a woman manifest the will to give themselves to each other for ever in order to live a covenant of faithful and fruitful love.
The Christian family is called the domestic church because the family manifests and lives out the communal and familial nature of the Church as the family of God. Each family member, in accord with their own role, exercises the baptismal priesthood and contributes toward making the family a community of grace and of prayer, a school of human and Christian virtue and the place where the faith is first proclaimed to children.
From here, you can download a brochure for more information.
Preparation for marriage has gone to new heights. Life Partnership Workshop For Couples is a great basis for a life-long relationship. Whether couples are preparing to marry or commit to long term relationship, this workshop provides education and skills to support healthy and successful relationships. The workshop runs for four hours and is hosted by friendly, professional and experienced CatholicCare Sandhurst facilitators.
The workshop aims:
♦ To build knowledge about happy and healthy relationships
♦ To build strong and loving relationships
♦ To build deeper understanding and acceptance of each other
The workshop include :
♦ Activities to discover more about each other
♦ Activities to explore personality , habits, roles and backgrounds
♦ Communication and listening skills
Workshops are held in Shepparton and Bendigo
5.00pm to 7.00pm
Fees
The workshop costs $200 per couple. A concession rate is available upon request.
For bookings and enquiries phone CatholicCare
in Shepparton on (03) 5820 0444 or Bendigo on (03) 5438 1300.
Group are subject to maximum and minimum numbers determined seven working days prior to the commencement date. Early registration is encouraged.
From here, you can download a flyer for more information.